US MEDIA OPINION PIECES

US NEWS ARTICLES

US WIRE SERVICE NEWS ARTICLES

MIDDLE EAST NEWS: U.S. to Press Netanyahu to Curb Settler Activity
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123616439788928201.html
By JAY SOLOMON and JOSHUA MITNICK
MARCH 4, 2009, 11:57 P.M. ET

UK Embassy cancels move in Israel, concerned about owner's ties to West Bank settlements
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-israel-british-embassy,0,2812845.story UK Embassy cancels Israel move, cites settlements
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107ap_ml_israel_british_embassy.html UK Embassy cancels Israel move, cites settlements
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/04/AR2009030401422.html
By DIAA HADID, The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 4, 2009; 10:40 AM

Abbas to ask Clinton for help on settlement freeze
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/03/AR2009030300914.html
The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 4, 2009; 1:52 AM

Israel seizes land for settlement expansion
By Karin Laub, Associated Press
February 17, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-mideast17_webfeb17,0,273993.story

West Bank Land Seized As Israel Looks to Build
By Karin Laub, Associated Press
Tuesday, February 17, 2009; Page A09
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601293.html

ISRAEL: Settlement Plan Draws Ire
Associated Press
FEBRUARY 17, 2009, 12:48 P.M. ET
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123489284035101381.html

Israel takes control of more West Bank land
By KARIN LAUB, The Associated Press
Monday, February 16, 2009; 7:38 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021600624.html

Israel seizes land in West Bank to expand settlement
By KARIN LAUB, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Last updated February 16, 2009 8:33 p.m. PT
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/400337_israel17.html

Israel Moves to Expand West Bank Settlement
Associated Press
FEBRUARY 16, 2009, 7:46 A.M. ET
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123477819292592481.html

• Washington Post: EDITORIAL: Mr. Olmert's Farewell (5 October 2008).
  This article comments on Olmert's expressions of regret about supporting the settlements over the years - how it represents the shift in politics in Israel in the last decade.

• New York Times: , by Nicholas D. Kristof (24 July 2008).
  In this incredible column, Mr. Kristof gives intelligent rebuttals to some of his pro-Israel readers, and in the end suggests that the candidates relate to Israel with tough love - insisting they do the right thing such as not attack Iran and halt settlement building and expansion. The two issues covered the most are settlements and the wall. Also discussed is the point that if Israel does not help the two-state solution happen, then the one-state solution will happen because of the demographics.

• San Francisco Chronicle: Memoir review: Palestinian's paths narrowing, by Erik Gleibermann (27 June 2008).
  This book review covers Raja Shehadeh's latest book, "Palestinian Walks: Forays Into a Vanishing Landscape", which describes the expanding settlements strangling Palestinian West Bank communities and life, and by extension the dream of a viable Palestinian State.

• New York Times: The Two Israels, by Nicholas D. Kristof (22 June 2008).
  This article documents the struggle in Hebron between the native Palestinians and the Israeli settlers. The article describes that the Israeli settlement is illegal, and yet is protected by a huge regiment of Israeli military power at tremendous cost, and thus makes Israel look bad to the world, and also antagonizes and radicalizes the Palestinians. The article then describes the worst and best of the Israelis. The worst being the settlers themselves stealing land from the Palestinians, and harrassing the Palestinians at checkpoints, and the best - Israelis who defend the Palestinians in action and word. Lastly, the author hopes the American presidential candidates will support these latter Israelis.

• *New York Times: Time for Radical Pragmatism, by Thomas L. Friedman (4 June 2008).
  In this op-ed Mr Friedman expresses the belief that the spread of settlements across the West Bank now makes a viable Palestinian State in that area virtually impossible, and believes that only a "radical pragmatism" will lead to a solution where Israel would be willing to remove the settlements so that a viable State could be established in the hopes of averting the demographic crisis which is developing for Israel wherein Israeli Jews will soon find themselves to be minorities in the region if they continue to maintain control and responsibility over the West Bank.

• New York Times: Israel's 'American Problem', by Jeffrey Goldberg (18 May 2008).
  This fascinating op-ed by Jeffrey Goldberg theorizes that the settlement movement is right now the greatest danger to the future of Israel because it is not allowing a viable Palestinian State to be established in the West Bank, and as a result the Palestinians will increasingly focus on creating true equality for themselves in Israel itself as Israel increasingly takes over the West Bank, and because there will soon be more Palestinians in the region than Israeli Jews, then this will mean that in the true democracy and equality they are working toward they will be able to exercise their voting rights and vote for the end of the Jewish State and the Jewish-dominated government.

• New York Times: For Israelis, an Anniversary. For Palestinians, a Nakba., by Elias Khoury (18 May 2008).
  This very interesting op-ed describes Israel's demographic challenge - that postulates that Israel's refusal to allow a viable Palestinian state to evolve in the West Bank is going to lead to everyone's destruction in a state of perpetual war while sweeping the surrounding countries toward fundamentalist extremism.

• *Washington Times: "Mideast peace prospects" (21 April 2008)
  This editorial by Ziad Asali describes how Israeli settlement building obstructs the peace process, and the importance of freeing up Palestinian movement and economic activity in the occupied territories, and other very important points about the occupation.

• Los Angeles Times: Olmert says Israel must withdraw from West Bank for peace, by Ashraf Khalil (30 September 2008).
  Quote - "Olmert says Israel must withdraw from West Bank for peace Israel’s prime minister, who has a few weeks left in office, says that to achieve lasting peace, the nation has to cede most of the West Bank and half of Jerusalem to Palestinians".

• Washington Post: Failure Written in West Bank Stone, by Gershom Gorenberg (30 September 2008).
  This op-ed discusses how Olmert criticizes the settlements he could not control while PM.

• New York Times: Olmert Says Israel Should Pull Out of West Bank, by Ethan Bronner (29 September 2008).
  This article describes Olmert's change of heart concerning the occupation - and his sense of regret and attrition - which is remarkable in a public statement by an established conservative politician.

• New York Times: Memo From Jerusalem: Support for 2-State Plan Erodes, by Isabel Kershner (4 September 2008).
  The Palestine Strategy Study Group, a new Palestinian think-tank financed by the EU, and the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information, are both now considering the one-state solution as one of many possible solutions as the Annapolis talks fail and the West Bank fills up with settlements at an accelerated rate.

• Chicago Tribune: Settlement growth said to double, by Joel Greenberg (27 August 2008).
  This article describes the latest Peace Now report on settlement expansion. The report then describes Israeli government officials saying that the Palestinians should not let the settlement expansion interfere with peace negotiations even though stopping such expansion was a specific demand of both the Quartet Road Map and the Annapolis talks.

• New York Times: Rice, in Israel, Criticizes Surge in Settlement Construction, by Ethan Bronner (26 August 2008).
  This article is based on the latest Peace Now report. The article discusses some of the Israeli rationale and exposes its absurdity. The article also briefly describes Peace Now and how they work.

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Settlers increase attacks on West Bank Palestinians, by Robert W. Gee (19 August 2008).
  This article describes increasing settler attacks on Palestinians supposedly because of increased shutdown of outposts and the relative lack of Israeli police response. The article also describes the outposts as illegal as per Israeli law, but that all settlements are 'illegitimate' as per international law and also describes the dual legal system which ties the settlement legally to Israel while the Palestinian areas remain under military law.

• Christian Science Monitor: In one town, Gazans yearn for previous Israeli presence, by Rafael D. Frankel (12 August 2008).
  This article describes the economic decline in a Palestinian village that had been located in the center of Israeli settlements in Gaza, wherein it had enjoyed full employment. These days following the withdrawal of the settlements and then the Israeli blockade, the village has fallen on hard times in comparison, and regrets it.

• Atlanta Journal Constitution: Olmert departure may doom hope for quick peace deal, by Robert W. Gee (11 August 2008).
  This articles describes Olmert's departure, but also the expansion and building of new settlements and the ongoing raids into areas supposedly controlled by the PA, all are dooming the talks.

• Christian Science Monitor: Israeli settlers in West Bank defy promise, by Joshua Mitnick (31 July 2008).
  This article describes a new settlement arising in the Jordan Valley, radically violating promises made at Annapolis and to the Quartet to not build new settlements in the West Bank as well as Olmert's rationale that expansion within the already established main settlement blocks was not part of promise.

• New York Times: Israel Moves Toward Building More Settler Homes, by Isabel Kershner (25 July 2008).
  In her article about another case of Israeli settlement building in the Jordan Valley, Ms. Kershner elaborated mostly on the Israeli rationale and immediately rebutted points of the opposing position when she did mention it. Her main defense was that the settlement is not new as most claim, but that this is another example of settlement expansion. But in the process she did list all the different parties that do oppose settlement building from the Quartet to the Palestinians to the UN to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

• Chicago Tribune: Rice: Israeli growth saps peace bid - New West Bank plans draw sharper rhetoric, by Joel Greenberg (16 June 2008).
  This article describes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice using even sharper language to criticize Israel for its continuing to expand settlements near Jerusalem. She also admitted she did not expect any "blinding breakthroughs".

• New York Times: Rice Says Houses Hurt Mideast Talks, by Ethan Bronner (16 June 2008).
  This article describes how US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice used sharper language than usual to criticize Israel for continued settlement expansion, which she says is hurting peace efforts. She also criticized Israel for continuing to withhold exit visas for 3 of 7 Fulbright Scholarship winners from Gaza.

• San Francisco Chronicle: Rice assails Israeli construction plans, by Griff Witte (16 June 2008).
  This article describes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice using increasingly sharp language in her criticism of Israel's continuing to expand settlements near Jerusalem, which she and the Palestinians say is a major obstacle to reaching a peace agreement. The article also described the fading hopes that an agreement will be reached by the time Bush leaves office.

• Washington Post: Rice Urges Israel to Desist on Settlements, by Griff Witte (16 June 2008). This article describes Condeleeza Rice's frustration with Israel refusing to halt settlement expansion and how this is a major obstacle to reaching a peace agreement by the end of Bush's term. The article also describes Rice's failure to win exit visas for all 7 Gazan Fullbright scholarship winners.

• Washington Post: Mutual dismay over Jewish settlements: Israeli Premier seeks to balance growth, by Griff Witte (20 May 2008).
  This interesting article describes the pressures on Olmert over settlements. On one hand he has the international community pressuring him to halt settlement building because it hurts the chances of a viable Palestinian State developing, but on the other hand there is tremendous internal pressures on Olmert from conservative parties within his own government to actually expand settlement building.

• Washington Post: "Israelis Claim Secret Agreement With U.S.: Americans Insist No Deal Made on Settlement Growth" (24 April 2008)
  Israel claims Bush administration made a secret agreement with them to tolerate their settlement expansion. The Bush administration denies this, but then mostly does nothing when Israel very overtly reveals their settlement expansion plans.

• *National Public Radio: "Israeli-Palestinian Talks Sour Over Settlements" (7 April 2008)
  In its national news broadcast at rush hour, called "All Things Considered", National Public Radio presented a report which strongly condemned Israel's ongoing settlement expansion in violation of agreements made as part of Bush's Middle East peace efforts.

• *New York Times: "Palestinians Fear Two-Tier Road System" (28 March 2008)
  We need to applaud the New York Times for this extraordinary article because of the way it portrays the Palestinian struggle of living under Israeli occupation, and that security is not necessarily the real reason for the occupation either. But one point also important to convey to the NY Times is that it is importance to also mention international law and UN resolutions - that the Israeli settlements, confiscation of private Palestinian land, and the restriction of Palestinian movement are all violations of international law and numerous UN resolutions, especially if they are not really for security purposes.

• New York Times: West Bank Sites on Private Land, Data Show, by Steven Erlanger (14 March 2007).
  This incredible article in the New York Times discusses how a high percentage of the land which Israel has built its settlements on is actually privately-owned Palestinian lands, which is illegal according to the Israeli Supreme Court, and this includes the major settlement blocks which Israel claims it will never give up. This is based on a report by Peace Now.

Human rights group says report on West Bank settlements implicates Israeli government I
By MATTI FRIEDMAN, Associated Press Writer
5:48 AM CST, January 30, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-israel-settlements,0,874360.story

Group: Settlement info implicates Israeli gov't
By MATTI FRIEDMAN, The Associated Press
Friday, January 30, 2009; 6:48 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013000932.html

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Washington Post
  Olmert says peace requires Israeli withdrawals ,
  Chicago Tribune
  Israel's Olmert says peace means withdrawing in West Bank, Jerusalem, Golan Heights,
  both article-versions by Matti Friedman, Associated Press (29 September 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israelis welcome Jewish New Year, by Shawna Ohm, Associated Press (29 September 2008) - as Israeli Jews celebrate the New Year, Israel closes the West Bank, and Olmert declares the necessity of retreat from the West Bank in order to allow a viable Palestinian State. The article then gives the demographic stats that tell why this is neccessary but does not actually explain the connection.
• Washington Post
  Israel should quit most occupied land: Olmert, by Jeffrey Heller, Reuters (29 September 2008).
• Washington Post
  U.N. Security Council to debate Israel settlements, by Louis Charbonneau, Reuters (25 September 2008) - the discussio included the separation barrier. The article is thorough in describing both sides of the debate in a fair and balanced way - but this still does not mean the Israelis look good.
• Chicago Tribune Israeli government delays first discussion of paying Jewish settlers to leave West Bank homes,
  Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Los Angeles Times,
  Washington Post: Israel's government puts off evacuation discussion,
  both article-versions from Associated Press (7 September 2008) - ... about compensating Israelis to move out of West Bank settlements in lieu of a 2-state settlement with the PA; talks to be delayed just one week.
• Washington Post
  Olmert promotes West Bank settler buyout plan, by Jeffrey Heller, Reuters (7 September 2008).
• Washington Post
  Palestinians study options if peace talks fail, by Wafa Amr, Reuters (3 September 2008) - a Palestinian think-tank funded by the EU considers the one-state solution (amongst others) as the Annapolis talks seem to head toward failure and the settlements spread throughout the West Bank.
• Chicago Tribune, Palestinians reject partial peace accord at Olmert-Abbas summit meeting, target date in doubt,
  Boston Globe,
  Washington Post, Palestinians reject partial peace accord,
  both article-versions by Mark Lavie, Associated Press (31 August 2008) - Palestinians reject partial plan and state that the settlement expansion is the major obstacle to success in the peace efforts.
• Chicago Tribune To both Israelis and Palestinians, biblical Jordan Valley is the key to national survival,
  Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Boston Globe,
  Denver Post,
  Miami Herald,
  Philadelphia Inquirer,
  Washington Post, Israel tightens grip on West Bank's Jordan Valley,
  both article-versions by Karin Laub, Associated Press (30 August 2008) - this article describes Israel's settlement building and expansion in the Jordan Valley, which clearly violates previous agreements, but which they claim is necessary for security.
• Washington Post
  Around The World: ISRAEL - Rice Issues Appeal, from News Services (27 August 2008) - quote from article - "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Israel on Tuesday not to undermine peace talks with the Palestinians after a report found it had nearly doubled Jewish settlement construction".
• Chicago Tribune
  Rice says 'God willing' there is hope for Israeli-Palestinian peace, criticizes Israelis, by Matthew Lee, Associated Press (26 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israel settlement surge draws Rice criticism, by Arshad Mohammed, Reuters (26 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Rice sees difficulties in Mideast talks, by Matthew Lee, Associated Press (25 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israel mulls new settler enclave in West Bank, by Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Reuters (11 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israeli-Palestinian hatreds envenom West Bank city, by Alistair Lyon, Reuters (7 August 2008) - describes the situation in Hebron where settlers have taken over the towncenter and abuse the Palestinian natives and the Israeli military won't do anything about it, and instead undermine Palestinian police with almost daily raids.
• Washington Post
  Israel to build new homes on occupied land, Reuters (7 August 2008).
• Chicago Tribune
  In demographic race for Jerusalem, Palestinian discovers home is no longer home,
  Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Boston Globe,
  Washington Post:
  For Jerusalem Palestinians, home not always home,
  all 3 article versions by Karin Laub, Associated Press (2 August 2008) - this article describes how Israel is attempting to win the demographic race for Jerusalem using inhumane methods such as land policy, home demolitions, wall, discrimination in building permitting, etc., and yet is still losing.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  Israel reverses stance on West Bank projects,
  Boston Globe
  Israeli committee OK's new settlement,
  both articles by Laurie Copans, Associated Press (25 July 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  Cause of village clash disputed, Associated Press (25 July 2008).
• Boston Globe
  Settlers clash with Palestinians, Associated Press (25 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Palestinians allege settlers attacked village, Associated Press (24 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Report: Israel to build settlement in West Bank, Associated Press (24 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israel revives plan to build new West Bank settlement, Reuters (24 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Report: Israel to build settlement in West Bank, Associated Press (24 July 2008).
• Boston Globe
  Brown demands end to Israel settlement-building, by Mohammed Daraghmeh, Associated Press (21 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Britain's Brown demands end to Israel settlements, by Mohammed Daraghmeh, Associated Press (20 July 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Chicago Tribune,
  Miami Herald:
  Village sues builders of Israeli settlement, Associated Press (10 July 2008) - Bilin assists WB village in suing two Canadian construction companies for involvement in nearby settlement construction, in violation of international law.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Miami Herald,
  Philadelphia Inquirer,
  San Francisco Chronicle,
  Washington Post:
  Settler fires rocket at Palestinians, by Steve Weizman, Associated Press (20 June 2008).
• Boston Globe
  Rice says Israeli building plans hurt peace talks - Warns Europe, White House may lose faith, by Anne Gearan, Associated Press (16 June 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Chicago Tribune,
  Miami Herald:
  Rice criticizes Israel on West Bank settlements, by Anne Gearan, Associated Press (15 June 2008).
• Philadelphia Inquirer
  Rice: Israel having negative effect on peace talks, by Anne Gearan, Associated Press (15 June 2008).
• Philadelphia Inquirer
  Settlement issue on Rice's agenda, by Laurie Copans, Associated Press (15 June 2008).
• Philadelphia Inquirer,
  Washington Post:
  Rice to press Israelis on settlements, Associated Press (15 June 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israeli settlement building hurting talks: Rice, by Arshad Mohammed, Reuters (15 June 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  U.S: Israeli housing plan undermines peace - 1,300 homes are planned in east Jerusalem, by Anne Gearan, Associated Press (15 June 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Washington Post:
  Israel curbs Palestinian building on disputed land, by Dalia Nammari, Associated Press (14 June 2008).
• San Francisco Chronicle
  Palestinians balk at Israel's east Jerusalem building plan, by Amy Teibel, Associated Press (14 June 2008).
• Washington Post
  Abbas to discuss settlement construction with Rice, by Laurie Copans, Associated Press (14 June 2008).
• Miami Herald,
  Washington Post:
  Rice: Jewish housing plan undermines peace talks, by Anne Gearan, Associated Press (14 June 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Chicago Tribune,
  Miami Herald,
  Philadelphia Inquirer,
  San Francisco Chronicle,
  Washington Post: Official: Israel to expand West Bank settlements, Associated Press (14 May 2008).
• Boston Globe,
  Israel OK's more E. Jerusalem homes, by Amy Teibel, Associated Press (14 June 2008).
• New York Times
  Israel: Plans For East Jerusalem , Associated Press (14 June 2008).
  "Israel announced plans to build 1,300 more houses in East Jerusalem, angering Palestinians who warned that such plans threatened chances for a peace accord by the end of the year. The announcement brought to more than 3,000 the number of houses that Israel has approved for construction since the renewal of the peace talks on land that Palestinians think should be part of a Palestinian state. Palestinian negotiators condemned the latest plan, while Israeli officials said that most of the proposed housing would be on land that Israel has already annexed." NOTE: Both annexation of occupied territory and the settlements on occupied lands are illegal as per Geneva Conventions IV (1949).
• Washington Post
  Israel curbs Palestinian building on disputed land, by Dalia Nammari, Associated Press (14 June 2008).
• Washington Post
  Palestinian videoed settler attack: rights group, Reuters (13 June 2008).
• Philadelphia Inquirer,
  Washington Post:
  Israel OKs 1,300 east Jerusalem homes, by Amy Teibel, Associated Press (13 June 2008).
• *New York Times: "Rice presses Israel on roadblocks", writing by Jeffrey Heller (4 May 2008).
  Reuters article condemning settlements and roadblocks deception.
• *Boston Globe: "Rice presses Israel on roadblocks", by Arshad Mohammed and Mohammed Assadi (4 May 2008).
  Reuters article condemning settlements and checkpoints.
• * Washington Post: "Rice pushes for peace progress; Israel denies hidden agenda", by Anne Gearan (4 May 2008).
  AP article with strong words against settlements and exposure of manipulation of checkpoints.
• *Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Washington Post: "Mideast Quartet urges Israel to stop West Bank settlements", by Gregory Katz (2 May 2008).
  AP article on Quartet and UN asking Israel to stop building settlements and to eliminate roadblocks, and also expressed concern about worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
• *Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Report says Israel can remove 10 West Bank checkpoints" (30 April 2008).
  AP article about study showing removing some major checkpoints will not be a security risk for Israel.
• Reuters Wire News Service: "Abbas downbeat on prospects for Mideast peace" (27 April 2008)
  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expressing increasing pessimism about the peace process begun in Annapolis, largely due to Israeli refusal to halt settlement expansion.
• Washington Post: "Abbas appeals for more US help in peace process" (24 April 2008)
  This article makes it clear that the major obstacle to peace is the Israeli settlement policy - where Israel continues to expand settlements breaking agreements it made earlier.